Taiylor

I need help getting back into writing (Looking for experienced writer)

You sound like my kind of writer. I totally get the dropoff of roleplay inspiration, I dropped out of RPGuild too for a long time. Tried to come back and failed. Now I'm looking to try again. I wish I had some example roleplays to show you (because you mentioned you liked evolution and layers, and I do that stuff on a Lord of the Rings level as often as I can), but all of them pre-2013 were lost when the site shut down.

Hope to hear back from you, friend.

A mix of Magic

Hey, sorry I disappeared. Got back to college and I've been pretty under the weather lately.

A mix of Magic

Miguel nodded along to everything she said and he lifted his opposite hand to lay over her own with a smile to the others as if he was showing off his prize. "Now, if you don't mind, gentlemen... I think I'll let my horse turn in and let you all continue as you like. I have some matters of state to attend to, as well as entertaining a lovely lady." He enjoyed his friends' company, but he was always glad to abandon whatever he was doing to be on the receiving end of Alaera's affections. He had thus far proven to be a man who had a heart for romance, highly unlike most people Alaera had ever met in positions of power. He also had a tendency to figuratively 'place her on a pedestal' as a thing of beauty that was not meant to do any sort of taxing task. He'd long since ordered his staff to wait upon her just as loyally as they waited upon him.

As they re-entered his castle and retired to his balcony off his private parlor, Miguel sat down beside Alaera on the cushioned bench, holding her hand gingerly in his own. Even after so short a time, he knew he definitely enjoyed her. Being such a forward and blunt man, he made that perfectly clear to her and just about everyone without words. "I'm glad to know you enjoy my home so much, milady. In fact... I was hoping to ask you, if it's not too soon... if you'd like to stay. I'd like to properly court you, beyond all these diplomatic pleasantries." Again, being forward and entirely blunt about what he wanted.

A mix of Magic

Miguel was out on the enclosed grounds galloping about on his horse with the Archduke of Barton, playing a round of polo between themselves and a few other prestigious people from the city. But when Alaera stepped out, a very reassuring sign of her tightening hold on the prince's affections came in the form of his entirely missing a shot when he saw her and was momentarily daydreaming. He trotted his horse out to meet her, sliding from the saddle with a smile to face her as he pulled off the riding helm. "Good morning, milady." He bowed before her and pressed a kiss to her hand. "I hope you slept well?"

"My prince, is the game still on?" The Archduke called.

"In a moment! Come over here!"

The other men gathered and Miguel introduced Alaera with a clear, silent message that they were to treat her as his honored guest. Each man introduced himself, but the only one worth remembering for the time being was Archduke Breven Bennett. He was a thin and fairly tall man, but not as tall as Miguel, and he had to be in his early fifties at least. He seemed wary of Alaera after hearing Milaeus was her father, but he gave her the most courteous welcome in deference to his prince and ruler.

"So, Miss Condenance... if you're here, is there any chance we might be seeing your brother?" The Archduke asked, and she could see in his eyes that he knew well that Gauge was an assassin and a very 'persuasive' diplomat for his father.

"Lord Gauge is indisposed for now, she's told me," Miguel answered. "But we'll see, if she does decide Barton is to her liking."

A mix of Magic

With his vanity came ego, and Alaera was doing a fine job of feeding it. His smile grew more handsome as she called his rule firm and mentioned her desire for such a man. "You know, Lady Alaera... I do think we'll get along quite well."

Miguel might've been prideful and a bit frugal about this and that, but he was all to glad to dole out money and finery for Alaera's stay. He'd spared no expense to make the guest chambers as beautiful and luxurious as possible. Even though it was nice for someone who enjoyed such things, it was a far cry from what she was more used to. Her own room back in her own country was fine enough, but growing up with her loving brother, they'd spent a lot of time in his own room. His was grey and black, sparsely decorated with a very simple bed and an ever-roaring fire, and shelves up high with curious findings and skulls from hunting in the mountains, his favorite place. The room, like Gauge, had always smelled of mountain air and rain with just a hint of smoke from the fire.

A mix of Magic

"Milaeus is a very businesslike man. I honestly wonder why he bothers with my country. He disliked my father's love of ceremony and heraldry, so I'm surprised he doesn't mind my own." He pulled out a chair for her at the little parlor table and sat across from her. "I hate to think, however, that you're only here because your father forced you. I hope you find your own enjoyment in being here. It wouldn't do for you to be just a bargaining chip." As the tea was poured, Miguel sat back a bit, and she could already see his guard was falling not only because she was a beautiful woman, but because he'd already judged her, as he always judged quickly, as a calm and unthreatening sort of person. She'd certainly done well to convey such an air.

"I would've thought Milaeus would send you over the mountains to Prince Matthias, he boasts the most land beyond the more wild people who inhabit the mountain kingdom. Then again, no one here on the west side is on good terms with those ruffians in the peaks."

A mix of Magic

Miguel stroked his goatee with a pleased smile as he studied Alaera. "If I may be so forward, dear lady, King Milaeus hardly did your beauty justice in his letters. I've heard rumors, but nothing yet to describe what stands before me." He stepped forward and took her hand with an oddly gentle, but firm touch that told her he was definitely the leading man. Pressing a kiss to her hand without breaking eye contact, she could see just how intense his own brown eyes were, filled with cunning and majesty. He might've been quite attractive and desirable, but Milaeus had marked him for death in order to take his lands. And whatever Milaeus wanted, he tended to get with little delay.

"Come, I've arranged for tea in my private parlor and a small brunch," he quite boldly drew her hand to his arm and led her with all confidence off to one of the side. She'd met many stern and confident sorts before, but Miguel was like a lion strolling through his territory, king of all he saw. He made his approval of her quite clear as he made sure his servants saw to her every need and comfort, shooting a glare at one who wasn't quick enough for his taste. "I trust your journey went well. Tell me, what has brought the great King Milaeus' daughter's interest to my halls?" He wasn't going to bandy words about it.

A mix of Magic

The palace of Prince Miguel Gentry of Barton stood a fair distance from his city which he ruled over with an iron fist, backed by the mountains to the east and defended on all sides by stone walls whose bricks were carved from the mountainside. He was widely rumored to be a a stern man who adored heraldry and ceremony and legends of great knights. He'd shaped up to be a fine knight himself before he'd overthrown his father, and pride, rather vanity, was his strongest and weakest point. He never appeared in public without a light suit of decorative armor and a beautifully-embroidered tabard over top. In his castle, he was always dressed to the nines and his style was impeccable but clearly displayed his ego. Some teasing rumors claimed that he'd nearly drowned many times staring at his reflection in lakes and rivers.

Alaera was met by two guards in full decorative armor who seemed rather uncomfortable in their attire, and they escorted her into the lavishly-decorated halls. Tapestries of great battles and heroes hung everywhere and many statues of mythical and historical warriors stood between columns on either side. Prince Miguel stood at the end of the Great Hall where his throne lay, standing beside it with his hands clasped neatly behind his back. He too was dressed in finery with a chestplate and pauldrons and hip guards for armor set with lovely engravings and etchings. He wore fine gloves and dark trousers and a tabard with a purple raven on the front, the symbol of his house. At his hip hung a sword in a scabbard more richly decorated than Alaera had ever seen even of her own father's collection. He had long hair but it was tightly tied back and on his brow sat a simple silver circlet that, despite being gleaming and polished, seemed a little too humble compared to the rest of his outfit. Perhaps he assumed that he didn't need to show off a crown for people to know he was their Prince.

"Lady Condenance," he spoke with a deep and smooth tone of an eloquent leader who knew how to put power into his words. "Welcome to Barton Castle."

A mix of Magic

Why of course!

A mix of Magic

I think we ought to start with Alaera's arrival at her destination. Perhaps not Matthias and Gwen's home, let's go for a different, less... welcoming Prince.